Recently Discovered Buddhist and Jain Sites at Anandapur Block of Keonjhar in Odisha
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Odisha Review December - 2014 Recently Discovered Buddhist and Jain Sites at Anandapur Block of Keonjhar in Odisha Paramatap Pradhan The name Anandapur derives from which in Balunkeswara Temple, Uttareswara temple, Sanskrit means the “City of bliss / ecstasy”. Kundeswara temples and others are situated. Anandapur is located at 21.21°N and 86.11°E. Kushaleswara Temple was built by Jajati Keshari. It has an average elevation of 43 m (141 ft). The In this research paper I want to present town is situated on the bank of the river Baitarani 1 before you about my field exploration in this (which flows on the southern side of the town) . region. Mainly I would like to focus on Buddhist Anandapur, A town in the District of and Jain sites which are explored by me and this Keonjhar, is one of the Important Service-Cum- will encourage other researchers who are working Primary activities oriented towns of the State. on Buddhism and Jainism in this region. Explored Anandapur was once a prosperous village. It is sites discussed below : said that Gobinda Bhanja fellout with his father and left Keonjhar. He joined the services of Puri ruler and for his victory in the battle of Kanchi &Kaveri; he obtained a reward to the gadi of Zamindari of “Athagarh” now better known as “Anandapur”3. It was during the time of Gobinda Bhanja that the territory now comprising the Anandapur Sub- Division was conquered and incorporated with the Kingdom of Keonjhar. It is situated in the strike line of coastal and hilly regions. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery of green hills. It is situated on the bank of the river Baitarani which is a sacred river of Odisha, also known as Budha Ganga, and is considered one of the oldest rivers in India. During the ruling of Keshari dynasty in Odisha many temples of Shiva were constructed. Along the banks of this river many temples of Lord Shiva Buddhist God Avalokiteswar from Bancho can be found. The Jhadeswara temple, 98 December - 2014 Odisha Review Jain Sculptures from Bancho, Anandapur Bancho (21° 10’ 34’’N – 86° 11’ 30’’E):- This site is situated on left bank of the river Baitarani and 8 KM far away from the Anandapur block. From this area I have collected so many potsherds Potsherds from Dadhibamanpur, Anandapur of red ware and black ware. Among the (Red Ware) potsherds shapes are like vase, spouts and handi Potsherds from Bancho, Anandapur etc (drawing of the potsherds given below). From the excavation of Kankialike this type of potsherds reported 4. And from this so many sculptures of different god and goddess of Buddhism and Jainism reported to me, which were worshiped by the villagers. Dadhibamanpur (21°11’50" N- 86°10’57"E):- This site also situated on the left bank of river Baitarani and 5 KM far away from the Anandpur block. And this site situated between Anandpur and Bhadrak. From this site I have collected storage jars, vases, miniature pots, bowls of red ware and spouts also extracted from this site. From the excavation of Sisupalgarh and Kankia in Jajpur district like this type of potsherds also reported5. This is a very big mound of 200 m x 200m area. And the height of this mound might be 1 m. or above. With the potsherds I have also collected some bricks, sculptures of Lord (Red Ware and Black Ware) Buddha, Tara and stone pestles/weights from this mound. General view of this mound is given As we know the mountain range (an offshoot of below. the Eastern Ghats) stretching through the districts 99 Odisha Review December - 2014 of Keonjhar, Cuttack and Jajpur. Among these research papermay be helpful to other research cuttack and Jajpur is a variable store-house of scholars those who are working on Buddhism in Buddhist vestiges. The range is strewn with Odisha. Archaeological vestiges of ancient structures, References: loose sculptures, architectural fragments, brickbats, potsherds, etc. The hills and hillocks 1. Orissa District Gazetteers,1986, Government of Orissa. of the range for their geographical isolation from the surrounding plains were rightly chosen for the 2. Sinha, B N, 1999, Geography of Orissa, National Book Trust, New Delhi. residence of the Buddhist monks during the four months of rainy season (Chaturmasa 3. Op cit, Orissa District Gazetteers. Varsavasa) as attested by discovery of several 4. Patnaik, S K, 2014, “Excavations at Kankia (Early Buddhist establishments in and around the range6. historical Buddhist site)”, in Buddhism and Buddhism witnessed roaring prosperity in Birupa- Maritime Heritage of South-East Asia:Odishan Perspective,edited byS.K. Patnaik, Pratibha Chitrotpola valley during the rule of the Bhauma- Prakashan, New Delhi, pp. 133-149. Karas as evidenced from the archaeological vestiges at Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and 5. Lal, B.B. 1948, “Sisupalgarh: Early Historic Fort in Eastern India” in Ancient India, No.5, pp. 62-105. Langudi and many other sites in the neighbourhood at Vajragiri, Tarapur, Deuli, 6. Pradhan, S, “Buddhist Heritage of Odisha” by Kolanagiri, Kayam, Radhanagar, etc. Many sites Department of Tourism & Culture, Govt. of Odisha. from this list are situated in Jajpur district. Through these above evidences we can guess/conclude that how much importance of these areas from the archaeological point of view. Anandapur is not much more far away from Jajpur, so during that time Buddhism must be spread to this area. That’s why the evidences of Paramatap Pradhan, At-Room No-11, Jagadish Bhawan, Buddhism reported to me during my exploration (Near Maurya Lodge), Chhittupur (BHU), Varanasi, of this area for my research work. And this U.P-221005. 100.